Tasmania reaches 1-97 at lunch
DROPPED catches cost Western Australian the chance to gain the early ascendancy over Tasmania on the opening morning of their Pura Cup clash at the WACA Ground today.
WA captain Justin Langer won the toss and put the Tigers in to bat, hoping to take advantage of conditions that appeared likely to suit his seam attack.
In heavily overcast conditions and with the pitch looking more lively than the one that gave up just 18 wickets in the four days last week, it was an understandable decision.
The early wicket of Michael DiVenuto (14) appeared to justify Langer's decision, but the Warriors then grassed two catches in one over to let the Tigers off the hook.
At lunch on the first day, Tasmania was 1-97, with opener Tim Paine on 37 and veteran Michael Bevan on 34.
Both Paine and Bevan were put down in the one Ben Edmondson over.
Bevan was on five when he sliced a full toss to
Ben Dorey at gully, with the WA fieldsman just failing to hang on to what would have been a superb catch.
Three balls later, Paine should have been on his way, but his regulation edge into slips was missed by Adam Voges.
The Warriors also beat the bat on a number of occasions, but had little to show for their efforts at lunch.
DiVenuto was the only man out, when he attempted to pull former Zimbabwe all-rounder Sean Ervine and skied a simple catch to Aaron Heal at square leg.
The Warriors were coming off a draw against Victoria, when they gained first innings points, while Tasmania's confidence was up after beating Queensland outright at the 'Gabba.
The Tigers also beat the Warriors at the WACA last season, WA out to break a run of outs on their own ground, where they didn't notch an outright win last summer. Both teams went in unchanged, with WA again naming Clint Heron 12th man, while the Tigers left out Luke Butterworth.
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That whacky Ben Dorey!
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Can't fight the seether.
I can't see her 'til I'm foaming at the mouth
at use of the word "great" ...
